Donnell W. Hunter

Donnell W. Hunter, 82, of LaBelle, passed away Monday, February 04, 2013, from complications of heart surgery, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. He was born June 5, 1930, in Rigby, Idaho to William Wallace Hunter and Bertha O’Donnell Hunter. He was raised and attended schools in Rigby, graduating from Rigby High School. He continued his education at Ricks College, Utah State University, University of Montana and earned a Master’s Degree in English and Literature and Fine Arts. On October 15, 1952, he married Nita Deon Kearsley in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. He taught at Madison High School, Ricks College, Church College of Hawaii, and BYU. Donnell was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a young man he served a mission to Mexico; later in life he served as a Mission President in Veracruz, Mexico for 3 years, as area welfare agent for 2 years in Central America, and as Temple President in Santiago, Chile for 3 years. He was also a sealer in the temple for approximately 33 years. He enjoyed writing poetry and was published in 47 states; he also authored the hymn “The Lord Gave Me a Temple”, found in the LDS Children’s Primary Song Book. His many hobbies included woodworking of fine furniture, even making his own coffin, painting with water colors and oils, sculpture, operating his own printing press and printing his own chapbooks and chapbooks of William Stafford and others. He was a bird expert, he made homemade bread since 1977, and he loved to play chess and scrabble. He loved classical music and played saxophone in band and dance orchestra at Ricks College and sang in Ricks College and ward choirs. He is survived by his wife, Nita K. Hunter, of LaBelle, daughters, Donita (Gerald) Christensen, of Pocatello, Sally (Kirk) Geisler, of LaBelle, sons, Michael (Lisa) Hunter, of LaBelle, Kerry (Denece) Hunter, of Caldwell, Edward Hunter, of LaBelle, Alan (Lillie) Hunter, of Roosevelt, Utah, Kim (Gretchen) Hunter, of Ogden, Utah, Nathan (Stacey) Hunter, of Parker, Colorado, sister, Iris Ricks, of Fairview, Utah, brothers, Ralph (Shirlee) Hunter, of Irwin, Emerson Hunter, of Idaho Falls, 31 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 4 more coming soon. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Bertha Hunter, 1 granddaughter and 1 great-grandson. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 9, 2013, at the LaBelle 1ST Ward LDS Chapel, 4223 E. 528 N. Rigby. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. prior to services, both at the church. Burial will be in the Annis Little Butte Cemetery, under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.